The Evolution of Jess ETA: Behind The Making of His EP “Balance”
Jess ETA takes my call from inside his home on a rainy day in Lagos- he has temporarily moved there from Abuja around the time of his latest release. He shares that a large part of the writing, recording and production that went into Balance (The EP) has taken place during the global pause as a result of the coronavirus.
“Before, I was really doing music as a little hobby-and that changed with this project. Balance was the first time music took precedence over everything else in my life” and it shows. This project sees the evolution of Jesse ETA reflected in a refined soundscape that ranges from sultry RnB collabs to soulful Afrofuturistic melodies. As a whole, the project makes for easy listening and only gets better with every play.
In our interview, Jess uncovers the true meaning behind his latest project, how he nearly gave up on making music and his hopes for the future.
This interview has been lightly edited for the purpose of clarity and context.
Jade Kelly: Congratulations on the roll out of Balance! How long has this project been in the works?
Jess ETA: Thank you so much. In its entirety, this EP is a compilation of stuff I’ve been working on for the last 10 months or so.. But the bulk of this project is songs I’ve written, recorded and produced while we’ve been on lockdown as a result of the pandemic. I’ve had some time off school and I kinda took advantage of that.
What are you studying?
Aerospace Engineering. Before you say anything, I know it sounds crazy-but I have a passion for both.
What does your creative process look like?
With music-sometimes it just starts with the beat [which I do myself] most of my songs start from the thought process of “What does this beat make me feel?” And then trying to translate that into the lyrics.
What would you say is the core message behind your EP?
Many people will listen to the project and resolve that its a project about love, which it is-in part. However, romance was just the vehicle I used to convey the larger theme of the beauty of cohesion...and the necessity of everything being in balance with each other- which I think is the key to a beautiful and fulfilled life
How much do you think your sound has evolved since your last project, Aphrodite?
So much. I’ve definitely refined my sound more. Besides that, working on Balance was the first time I put music at the forefront of everything in my life.. And I definitely think it is reflected on the project. I will say that even though the stuff I put out before was a lot of experimenting and not as refined, I believe that every stage has its beauty.
How would you describe your sound?
My friends laugh when I say this but I always describe it has a “fruitmix” of different sounds. Definitely a fusion of Afrobeats, Afrosoul and some other futuristic sh*t!
How tough is the competition as an emerging artist in Nigeria?
Let me start off by saying there are some talented kids in my country- I think as Nigerians we just have that thing-the juice, that sets us apart from the rest of the world. With regards to competition, I definitely had to resist the urge to make music that is more mainstream or closer to purely Afrobeats. There’s this perception that as a Nigerian artist Afrobeats is the only genre in which you are meant to exist...I’m glad I stuck to my guns because I think my ‘weird’ or ‘different’ sound is what distinguishes me from other artists-and that’s my superpower!
What has been some of the challenging parts of trying to establish yourself as an artist?
That no one listens to your sh*t. [laughs] seriously though. So much goes into putting something out and a lot of the fear I have is just hoping that it reaches peoples’ ears.. I remember I was going through I tough period , and I didn’t know if what I was doing was ever going to pay off..and then REMA blew up. For me, that moment was just a reminder of how quickly things can happen, that its all on Gods time and seeing myself reflected in artists who are now getting worldwide recognition-that gave me the boost to create again.
Do you see yourself on a potential feature with him?
Not only would that be a dream come true, but I also feel like we would make a banger!!So for sure-that’s on my to do list.
What excites you most about the future?
Doubt visits me often, but I’m really thankful to be in a constant state of learning and evolving. I’m excited about growing the community of people who relate to and appreciate my music. Getting back to performing live and getting back into the studio!
